The YMCA of Greater Moncton has built strong, supportive partnerships with the YMCA in Risaralda, Colombia based on the belief that human development is a right and that every person deserves opportunities to grow in spirit, mind and body.
Just like the work of the YMCA in our own community, the partnership centers on nurturing the potential of children and youth, promoting healthy living, and fostering social responsibility through civic engagement.
In Risaralda, Colombia, the partnership focuses on the recruitment and training of volunteers, who are the life force of their YMCA. Volunteers of Risaralda’s Y offer all sorts of opportunities to their community, like the National Program for Conciliation of Cultural Development that provides neighborhood kids with lessons in theatre, dance and music, or the YMCA Recreate program, where volunteers use fun activities like Clown Theatre to educate youth on serious topics, like their rights as citizens or sexual health, and organize other awareness campaigns, cultural programs and special celebrations.
Through help from the YMCA of Greater Moncton, the Risaralda Y is able to coordinate all of these amazing volunteer efforts that work to create better conditions for children and young people in the region.